Armored body for automobiles, tractors, cars, and like vehicles



Aug. 12 1924,

c. A. GIBBs l ARMORED BODY FOR A UTOMOBILES, TRACTORS, CARS, AND LIKEVEHICLES 2 sheets-sheer 1 Oiginal Filed June 1o, 1922 Aug. 12 31924 c.A. GIBBS ARMORED BODY' FOR AUTOMOBILES, TRACTORS,

CARS, AND LIKE VEHICLES original Filed June 1o, 1922 2 sheets-sheet 2Patented Aug. l2, i924.

unirse stares i,5o4,94a y CLARENCE A. GIBBS, 0F HOBOKEN, NEW JERSEY.

ARMORED BODY FOR AUTOMOBILES, TRACTORS, CARS, AND LIKE VEHICLES.

y Application filed June 10, 1922, Serial No.Y 567,257. Renewed January5, 1924.

To n?? wimmz't may oon-0cm:

Be it known that I, CLARENCE A. Gines, a citizen of the United States,residing at Hoboken, in the county of Hudson and State ot New Jersey.have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Armored Bodies4.banks, safe deposit companies and other similar institutions, and isespecially designed to insure safe and convenient transportation andconveyance of money, jewelry, bonds. securities and other valuables fromone place to another, and to and from customers of the bank, or othersimilar institution.

Another object of the invention is to provide a vehicle body built ofhigh carbon l steel sheets or plates ixedly secured to a series ofupright steel angle bars, said sheets or plates being covered upon theirouter face with a plurality of sections or panels composed of aplurality of laminated thin sheets of a special quality of spring sheetsteel absolutely bullet proof, with port holes or openingsproperlywloated and formed through the body for elfective defense.

Another object of the invention is to so construct my novel'vehicle bodyas to include gas tanks supported therein, said tanks being filled withtear, ammonia or other suitable gases under pressure, and connected withsuitable discharging and distributing pipes Vsurrounding the vehicle, tobe readily operated when desired or required, and is especially adaptedand used to subdue, crush or quell insurrections or riots wherever theymay occur, since a few men can defend a vehicle of this type against amultitude.

A further object of this invention is to so construct the body that allport holes or sight openings are provided with bullet proof glasswindows, each hole or window being provided with a suitable steel coverfor protection of the occupants when in action, and a suitable sheetsteel cover is arranged to protect the wind-shield at the front.

The foregoing and such other objects as may appear from the ensuingdescription are attained by the construction, arrangement, combination,assembling and location of the parts hereinafter more fully described,illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed outin the claims appended hereto, it being understood that slight changesin the precise form, proportions and minor details of the constructionmay be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificinganyof the advantages ot' the invention.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part'of the specification itwill be seen that Figure 1 is a side elevation oi the vehicle embodyingmy invention. A i

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section taken in the plane of the dottedlines 2 2, Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a rear end elevation.

Figure et is an enlarged side elevation of.

a portion of the vehicle, showing the body and rear wheel broken away,and a portion of the body armor sections broken away.

'Figure 5 is an enlarged vertical section of the laminated armorsections for protecting the body, showing the lowermost section brokenaway.

Figure 6 is an enlarged rear side elevation of a portion of one of thearmor sec,- tions, shown broken away and with a sheet ot' fabric securedto one of the spring steel armor sheets, and

Figure 7 is an enlarged vertical sectionof a plurality of the sheets offabric and steel forming each armor section or panel, each sheet beingshown broken away.

Similar numerals of reference are used to designate like partsthroughout the several views of the drawings.

ln the embodiment of my invention as illustrated the numerals 1, 1,indicate the inner wall of each side of my improved vehicle body, saidwalls being preferably formed of a high carbon sheet steel and Xedlysecured to the series of upright angle steel bars 3. The numeral 4designates the inner sheet steel wall forming the rear end, and 5 is,theinner sheet steel wall forming the front end of the body. Intermediatethe length of the body it is provided with an inward lateral extension 6at each side thereof, having formed in each extension a port hole orsight opening 7, whereby an occupant of the vehicle can readily discernthe approach of any one at either side of the vehicle or toward the rearthereof, and'- at one side of the vehicle is suitably secured the inletand exit doors 8, while the rear wall is formed with the doors 9suitably secured to said Wall for the4 passage of valuables therethroughin loading and unloading.

Fixedly and suitably secured within the body at and near the rear endthereof is a series of safety deposit boxes 10 arranged l against theupright inner wall, and fixed to the inner wall at the opposite side ofsaid body is a suitably constructed safety vault or strongbox 11preferably upholstered upon its upper surface thereby forming a seat orrest for one or more of the occupants, and between said vault l1 and adrivers `seat 12 is ixedly secured against the upright inner w'allanother series of safe deposit boxes 13, similar to the boxes 10, whiledirectly opposite the seat 12 is secured another safety vaultor strongbox 14 constructed and secured to the innerl wall in any suitable ordesirable manner.

It will be perceived that each side wall as well as the front and rearwalls of my vehicle body is substantially covered on their outer sidewith a series of armored Isections or panels 15, each of said sectionsor panels consisting of a metal rear plate or ,frame 16 preferably ofiron formed with an outwardly extended top portion 17, and anoutWardlyextended bottom portion 18 running substantially the entire length of 'ithe plate, each of said extended portions terminating with. a slightlyinwardly extended portion 19, each of said plates being riveted to, orotherwise iixedly secured to the upright angle steel bars 3, and each ofsaid'plates isy adapted to carry and support a plurality of .thin sheets20, formed of a special quality of spring steel, each metal sheet beingprovided with, a sheet of fabric 21 cemented to its rear face and eachof these comb-ined sheets of metal and fabric are slidingly pushed intoone end of the plate 16 and so arranged between the top and bottom ofeach plate as to leave a slight air space between each combined sheet toform an air cushion, as clearly shown in Fig. 7, the meeting sides ofthe plates 16 forming said Vsections or panels being covered by a steelmolding 22 suitably secured rto the vehicle body.

It will be understood that a plurality of these combined sheets of metaland fabric are loosely and removably supported within the plate 16, sothat should one of said sheets become damaged, a new sheet can bereadily inserted by sliding out the damaged sheet and sliding in a newsheet. to replace the one removed, and it will be readily7 obvious thatthe said armoured sections or impart to said body a somewhat ornamental,f

attractive and pleasing appearance.

Each of the port holes or openings 23 formed through the bod and doorsis preferably provided with bulletproof glass with a suitable steelplate shutter or drop l24, shown by dot-ted lines, to cover when inaction, and the wind-shield at the front is provided with a suitablesheet steel cover Suitably supported within the Ibody is one or more gastanks 24', each as shown by dotted lines Fig. 1 at the top portion thereof, each tank'being filled with tear, ammonia, or other suitable gas,under pressure, and connected by suitable pi ing leading from the tankto the perforated) distributing pipes 25 which surrounds the body andare secured thereto at the bottom portion thereof, said connected pipingbeing provided with conveniently arranged controlling valves which maybe readily and easily manipulated by the driver or other occupant. sothat in the event that an attack is made on thel vehicle at close range,thegas canquickly and effectively be distributed on all sides, -or anyone side or end of the vehicle, and thus successfully dispel or subduethe attack.

The bank safe vehicle such as shown and described may also be used bythe banks for safety transporting bullion from one place to another andfor transportingvaluable documents, payrolls, bonds, etc., and thevehicle may also be used by safe deposit companies and otherinstitutions for the safe transport and conveyance of jewelry, books andother valuables from the customers place to rthe institution and viceversa, since the chauii'eur and other occupants of the vehicle areeffectively protected within the armored and bullet proof body of thevehicle and are provided with the desired equipments which constitute aneilicient and safe` defense from all ofpthe customary attacks.

Tt. will be seen that. my improved vehicle body is provided with all ofthe necessary and desirable equipments for the safe conveyance ofvaluablesv of various kinds, at the same time leaving suicientunobstructed space for movement therein and seating accommodation forthe desired or required number of occupants thereof.

While I have not shown the side and rear end doors as being providedwith the armored bullet proof panels `herein described` it will bereadily `apparent that such panels may be arranged over the outer faceof said doors` thereby rendering the armored protect-ion ofthe vehiclebody more thorough nud complete.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is 1. An armored vehicle body of the character described,comprising an inner steel frame having its outer side and end surfacescovered with a plurality of horizontally disposed'bullet proof panels{ixedly secured to said frame, and a plurality of moldings adapted tocover the meeting edges of said panels.

2. An armored vehicle body of the character described, comprising aninner steel frame formed of steel sheets and upright steelangle bars, aplurality of bullet proof panels ixedly' secured to the outer face ofthe sides and ends of said frame, and a plurality of moldings adapted tocover the meeting edges of said panels.

3. An armored vehicle body of the character described, comprising aninner steel frame formed of steel sheets ixedly secured to a pluralityof upright steel angle bars, and a plurality of bullet proof panelsrigidly secured to the outer face of the sides and ends of said frame,each of said panels being formed of a plurality of thin sheets of aspecial quality of spring steel.

4. An armored vehicle body of the charv acter described, comprising aninner steel frame having its outer side and end surfaces covered with aplurality of bullet proof panels xedly secured to said frame, each ofsaid panels beingformed of a plurality of thin sheets of a specialquality of spring steel carried by a metal frame, and a sheet .fabricbacking cemented to each of said sheets.

5. An armored vehicle body of the cha-racter described, comprising aninner steel frame, and a plurality of bullet proof panels fixedlysecured toy the outer face of the sides and ends of said frame, eachpanel consisting of an iron frame adapted to support a plurality of thinspring steel sheets, each sheet having a backing of fabric securedthereto, and disposed within, said iron frame so as to leave an airspace forming an air cushion between each sheet,

6. An armored vehicle body of the character described. comprising aninner steel frame, and a plurality of bullet proof panels ixedly securedto the outer face of the sides and ends of said frame, each panel beingcomposed of an iron frame formed with an outwardly and inwardly extendedportion at each side adapted to support a plurality of thin spring steelsheets arranged in parallel relation with each other, each sheet hav-ling a backing of fabric secured thereto and so disposed within said ironframe as to leave an air space between each sheet and to beindependently removable,

7. An armored vehicle body of the character described, comprising aninner steel Vfabric backing secured thereto, and arranged parallel toeach other within said inner`` frame so as to leave an air space formingan air cushion between each sheet.

8. In a structure. .of the character described, an inner steel frameforming a body, a plurality of bullet proof panels fixedly secured tothe. outer face of said body, a safety vault secured to the front sideportion and a safety vault secured to the rear side portion within thebody, a seat for the driver, a series of deposit boxes disposed betweenthe drivers seat and rear vault, and a series of deposit boxesl disposedopposite said rear vault.

9. In a structure of the character described, an inner steel frameforming a body, a mutiplicity of bullet prooi:` panels ixedly secured tothe outer face of said body, a safety vault iixedly secured to the frontside portion and a safety vault secured to the opposite rear sideportion of the body, a seat for the driver, a series of deposit boxesixedly secured to said frame between the drivers seat and rear vault, aseries of deposit boxes secured opposite said rear vault, and seatsformed on the top of each of said vaults for the attendants.

10. In a structure of the character described, an inner steel frameforming a body, a multiplicity of bullet proof panels xedly secured totheouter face of said body,

safety vaults disposed vat the front and atl the rear portion-of thebody adapted to form seats for the attendants, a drivers seat, a seriesof deposit boxes disposed between the drivers seat and rear vault, aseries of deposit boxes secured opposite to said rear vault, and steelmolding strips secured over the meeting sides of said panels.

11. An armored vehicle body of the character described, comprising aninner steel frame, a gas tank suitably supported within said frame, gasdistributing means secured to the bottom of said frame at the sides andends thereof, and means connecting said tank with the distributingmeans.

12. An armored vehicle body of the character described, comprising anYinner steel frame, a plurality of bullet proof panels rigidly secured tothe outer face of said frame, a gas tank supported within said frame,gas discharging means secured to said frame at the sides and endsthereof, and means connecting said tank with the discharging means.

13. An armored vehicle body of the character described, comprising aninner steel frame formed with an inWard extension intermediate itslength at each side` thereof, and a port hole formed through eachextension to permit an attendant to guardV the rear sides and end of thevehicle.

14. An armored vehicle body of the character described, comprising aninner steel frame formed with an inward extension intermediate itslength at each side thereof, a plurality of horizontally disposed bulletproof panels iXedly secured to the outer facey of said frame, and a porthole formed in each of said extensions to permit the attendants to guardthe rear sides and end of the vehicle from attack.

15. In a structure of the character Vdescribed, an inner steel frameforming a body, a multiplicity of bullet proof panels xedly secured tothe outer face of said body, a safety Vault secured at each side of thebody, a series of deposit boxes secured at opposite sides of the body,doors secured at one side of the body, doors secured to the rear end ofsaid body, bullet proof glass Windows secured Within each of said doorsand Within each side of the body, and steel shutters for each of saidWindows adapted to cover the same when in action.

CLARENCE A. GIBBS.

